Cyprus should not trivialise illicit funds

If Cyprus does have to rely on a European bailout, it may be above all Russian citizens who have stashed away illicit funds in Cypriot banks that benefit. The German news magazine Spiegel reports that according to the German foreign intelligence agency, the BND, Russian citizens have 26 billion dollars deposited in Cypriot banks. The conservative daily Simerini calls on the Cypriots to be honest with themselves: "The articles published by Spiegel and Reuters, which are based on a BND report and claim that the Russian Mafiosi stand to profit most from the bailout money, have triggered a wave of criticism. ... So our envious European brothers are accusing us of writing negative reports, focusing on the problems, launching malicious attacks and damaging our reputation even though we have done nothing wrong and our hands are clean! But are our hands really so clean? First we should ask ourselves this question quietly and honestly and use our self-defence mechanisms where they are really needed."

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